"Don't follow her," advised Ruth, in a low, controlled voice, "it's best
to let her alone when she acts like that ... she'll have it out, and
come back, smiling, in an hour or so."
I plunged on. Ruth ran after me, catching me by the shoulder from
behind.
"Listen to me. Take my advice and keep out of this--Johnnie!" she called
my name with a tender drop in her voice.
If it had not been for her tell-tale pronouncement of my name I might
have listened to her ... but that made me angry, and it ran through my
mind how she and Penton had fatuously arranged my marrying her....
I ran after Hildreth. She slammed the door when I was so close upon her
that the wind of its shutting went against my face like a blow.